Flue-cleaner.



e. W. HADLOGK.

FLUE OLE/mee;

AIPLIOATION FILED APB.. 7,1909.

Patented Feb. 1, 191D.

Zhzessea.

ANDREW. B. GRAHAM ou., PnoTo-Lgmosmvnens. wAsmuamn, nv c.

-enanrrwj:aantocrgor ifrurcrrrnsoirfreansas, Assrerlvoe ro THE straatnaam -sUrrLY ann ivrnNUr/ae'runrne colar-ANY, or Hnrcrrrnson, Kansas, vA conronafrron or erases.

I A i specification of Letters Patent. i Il'wygmtqd application inea apra v, 1909. sljialno. reageer v ELITE-CLEANER.

Feb. Il, i910.

lo art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the acconr panying drawings, and to the ligures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to tube cleaners and has for its object to provide a device of that class for removing scale from boiler tubes.

In accomplishing this object I provide a. spring spiral, having cutting edges' and 20 adapted for yielding engagement with the inner surface of a tube, the spiral being wound unevenly on a holding rod to enable it to pass a weld, or other obstruction on the inner pipe surface.

I have also provided other improved details of structure which will presently be described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which y Figure I is a view, in side elevation, of a tube cleaner constructed according to my invention. Fig. II is a certain longitudinal section of same. Fig. III is an end view of same. Fig. IV is a cross sectional view on the line IV--IV, Fig. I. i

Referring more in detail to the parts l designates the cleaner rod which is thread- 4o ed at its outer end to carry the nuts 2-2 Ll designates the cleaner spiral which is preferably formed from a single piece of spring' wire, having its outer side beveled At5 to provide the cutting edge 5, the beveled portions of the spiral body being directed toward the center from both ends, so that the edges at each side of the center will face in opposite directions.

G-G designate heads which are slidably mounted on the rod l and have shoulders 7 7 in which the spiral ends seat. The outer faces of the heads are adapted for engagement by the units 2 2', so that the spiral may be adjusted and held thereby.

In forming the cleaner the spiral is made eccentrically, so that when assembled with the rod its cutting edge will be at unequal distances from the rod in order that, when projected through av tube, should a solid substance be met, the cleaner may be turned laterally, so that a portion of the spiral, of less diameter, may be passed over the obstruction without injuring the cleaner'.

In assembling the parts, the nut 2 is adjusted to a desired position on rod l and the heads 6*(3 and the spiral fitted over the rod and the head 6 seated on the outer face of the nut. The keeper nut 3 is then turned against the inner end of the spiral to retain same firmly against the nut 2. 'Ihe outer spiral head 6 is then anchored between the nuts 2 and 3 so that the spiral is held on the rod l and prevented from closing under pressure.

In using the device, the spiral is forced into the tube, so that the cutting edges will be tensioned against the inner surface thereof. In moving the cleaner-forwardly the edges on the first half of the spiral will cut against the scale, while the beveled face of the rear portion will slide over same. In withdrawing the cleaner, the action is reversed, so that the spiral will cut during both its inner and outer travel. Should a solid obstruction, such as a weld, or the like, be met, the spiral may be turned to bring a portion of less diameter over the obstruction and enable the cleaner to pass without injury, so that the portion of the tube beyond the obstruction may loe cleaned to the same depth as the outer portion thereof.

By providing the keeper nuts 3 and 3, the length of the spiral is maintained and its tendency to close upon itself obviated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z- 1. In a tube cleaner, a suitable rod, a cleaner member carried on said rod and comprising a single piece of spring wire coiled around said rod in an irregular spiral, forming coils of alternately greater and less diameter and means for anchoring the ends of said wire on said rod.

2. In a tubular cleaner, a helically formed resilient scraping member, of substantially semicircular cross section and having a single fiat face, the flat face of said wire being outward and inclined at an angle to the bore of a tube, substantially as and for the purelined at an angle to the bore of :i tube, subpose speced. stantially as and for the purpose described. 10

3. 1n a tube cleaner, 2L helioaliy formed In Atestimony whereof I affix my signature resilient scraping member, one half of Which in presence of two Witnesses.

5 has a differently shaped section from the n CLARK W. HADLOCK.

other half, each section being substantially Witnesses: semioircular and provided With ya single fiat C. R. SMITH,

face, the flat faces of said member being in- A. C. STEPHENS. 

